The Monkey Sanctuary, Looe, Cornwall

We visit Cornwall a couple of times a year but until now never been to The Monkey Sanctuary, and now we are wondering why we haven't been before as it was a really good day out.

 The Monkey Sanctuary is down quite a few country lanes, but very well sign posted. We were surprised by how many cars we were following and so pleased nothing was coming the other way. This being Cornwall what should be a single track road isn't.
Along the walk in were funny little monkey statues that Charlotte would spot amongst the trees and a wonderful view down to the coast. The lady at the entrance gave a quick brief on what you can and can't do and then we were off to explore.

The monkeys houses are built into the hill/cliff side. There are currently 37 monkeys and on the day we went must have seen about 15 of them. Some of them are playful and lively and others a bit more calm and some hiding away not wanting to be seen. Near each monkey house is a keeper to explain about the upkeep of the animals and their history. If you get to stop for a while and listen (Charlotte doesn't let us stop for talks very often) its really fascinating stuff and shows just how much the keepers really care about the animals they are looking after.

We would all love monkeys to be in the wild not in captivity, but things don't work out like that. The sanctuary is a rescue centre for those who have been kept as pets, some were circus acts and others came from zoos. There is a display room that goes into detail of how some of the animals were brought up, some of the foods they had been fed (or taunted with), and the cage that one monkey (Joey) had lived in for 9 years. Charlotte had a go at the monkey puzzle, which was easy for her with her little fingers but not so easy for the rest of us.

There is a bat cave with a night vision cctv so you can pick out the bats, very cool, and a wildlife room that covers the other animals that live on the site (think insects and birds not zoo animals). There is cctv set up in one of the birds nest and we could see the mother blackbird feeding her babies.

There is a lovely garden to walk around and a great childrens play area. The day we went there was a entertainer in the play area doing tricks for the kids. I'm guessing this was an extra put on for the summer holidays, the kids really loved it... and even some of the adults joined in with "boo, hiss, you're rubbish" when he dropped the items he was juggling.

On our way out we were getting hungry so took a look at the Tree Top cafe. We are veggies but other family members were meat eaters so went in with open mind of ok we will head to Looe for lunch if there is nothing carnivores can eat (usually its the other way around). We shouldn't have worried as the selection is excellent and the food was so good I wanted another plateful. They try to use local suppliers where possible, the cider came from Cornish Orchards just down the road and you can buy a bottle or 2 in the shop, which we did. The tree-top part made the cafe a unique experience.

The Monkey Sanctuary was a great find, and if you gift aid you get free return entry for a year so we will be back next time we are down that way. I would recommend combining your day with a trip to Seaton or Looe as its positioned between the two. Seaton has a dog friendly beach and a lovely walk up the valley, or Looe with a family beach, boat trips and shops.

As I said earlier it is built on a hill/cliff side so navigation with babies is not so easy. There were plenty of people dragging stollers up and down the slopes and steps but anything bigger or heavier would not be easy to manage. Its quite a small site so younger walkers shouldn't have too much trouble but i would pop babies into a carrier.
http://www.monkeysanctuary.org/

Montacute TV, Radio and Toy Museum, Montacute, Somerset

This was the most bizarre museum we stumbled across whilst on holiday, and there was easily something entertaining for people of all ages.

We were really hungry when we arrived so visited the tea rooms before the museum, really excellent food, the cakes looked so good we could have eaten them all. We happily played whats that tune for a while as they had old tv programme music playing (I got silenced by hubby for singing jim'll fix it). Once fully stuffed we went round the museum, it's described as "nostalgic experiences of TV programmes through the years" in their leaflet and it really is. There is a vast collection of old tvs and radios (my brother and I saying we remember that, I'm sure Grandma still has that) then onto memorabilia of old tv programmes, toys and games. There was a new sci-fi exhibition showing whilst we visited Star Trek, Dr Who and Thunderbirds. The museum covers everything, old westerns, magazines, spice girls dolls, neighbours boardgame (I had that), mr T mug (brother had that), Alice in Wonderland, blue peter annuals... I could go on but would never be able to cover everything. If you are ever in somerset this is a must see.
The space is a little cramped but you could get a stroller around the museum.
http://www.montacutemuseum.co.uk/

Beale Park, Lower Basildon, Reading

My parents used to take me and my brother to Beale Park when we were little, and its starting to become a favourite of Charlotte's too. She can now easily navigate us back to the little tike's play area if we get too far away from it!!!

Beale Park is a mixture of things, it has animals, play areas, swimming pool, paddling pool, ponds, sand pit, model boat shows, gardens, train ride, statues and a small model museum/pavilion. The thing my brother and I remember the most is the frogs, those being giant frogs you can climb on and are part of a water feature.
The play areas are excellent, with different areas for different ages, and an indoor area for when its wet (suitable for under 5's only). If your going in the sand pit you may want to take along a bucket and spade as none are provided. The paddling pool I looks excellent but cold, Charlotte didn't want to come out even though she was shivering, I wasn't brave enough to dip my toe in to see how cold.
There are bird encloses you can go inside, quite a few owls, farm animals, a recent edition is the new meerkat and mongoose area with good viewing platforms. The animals areas are really well spaced out with gardens around, there is a wild flower meadow near the deer and capybara in another garden.
There is a cafe, but most people seem to take their own picnics as there are plenty of spots to sit and eat. We did eat in the cafe, and though the food was ok it wasn't inspiring (we had veggie burger and chips as only meat sandwiches left, portions were very large with a fresh side salad) and maybe next time we will think ahead and take something to eat.
Beale Park is flat and easy to navigate with pushchairs, there are high chairs in the cafe (take an anti-bac wipe to clean it though!) and baby changing facilities.
All in all a good day out with something for everyone, find out more on their website

Hinksey Park, Abingdon Road, Oxford

Approx time: 1 hour
Paths: pavement
Points of interest: open areas, pond, lake, play park, swimming pool and splash area (summer only)
Amenities: parking, toilets, cafe (summer only)
Grading: all type of pushchairs as everywhere is flat
Weather: Good for all seasons

We go past Hinksey Park almost every day either on the bus or in the car and every time Charlotte asks if we can go there, as we are always on the way to or from work its not possible so on a nice sunny day off we went along to find out whats there.
Its free to park for 2 hours, that was a big surprise, make sure you collect a ticket though. The play park is excellent with activities for kids of all ages, lots of sand and some climbing bits we had to drag Charlotte away for a walk round the pond. Across the field (used by football clubs at the weekends) and hidden behind the trees is a lovely duck pond to walk around beside Hinksey Lake. The lake is sometimes used by model boat clubs.
From May - September there is a large outdoor swimming pool and also a kids splash area. It wasn't open when we went but it looks excellent. The splash/fountain area is free.
Its an excellent place to have a short walk, and it also links up to other walks and a cycle route, Hinksey Park has also won a green flag award. Now every time we go past Charlotte says I've been there it was fun.
More information on the Oxford City Council website

Ock River Walk (version 2), Abingdon (Oxfordshire)

This is an alternative route which takes quieter roads.
Approx time: 45 mins
Paths: mixture of footpaths, some main roads, some gravel, some mud
Points of interest: river, old buildings, bridges (we count the bridges, making each one an incentive to reach!), ducks
Amenities: Public parking off West St Helens Street (pay and display), pub on route, town centre cafes and shops close by, toilets in car park
Grading: any pushchair
Weather: can be muddy after heavy rainfall
Warning: open water along most of the route

1. leave south out of St. Helens car park and follow the footpath to the right. There will be houses on your left and garages to your right.

2. few feet along there is a large tree and a footpath on your right leading to a bridge. take this.

3. this is now the ock walk, follow the path, it split at a few points but soon joins up to the main footpath. older children might like to explore. just over half way along there will be a bridge to cross. at the start and end of the walk there are displays boards.

4. at the end of the ock walk cross a bridge to your left and almost go back on yourself, but on the other side of the river.

5. you will come out at some houses, carry on through a open green area

6. at the end of the green there is an exit to the right through the housing estate.

7. tuturn left and then left and head towards a roundabout and Caldecott Road.

8. Cross caldecott road and walk along the footpath lined with trees.
 

9. you will reach the iron bridge, cross this, pass infront of the "the Old Anchor Inn"
 
10. just beyond the Anchor turn left down an alley way passing Alms Houses and st Helens church. bear right and then left into West St Helens Street and the car park will be a few steps up on your left.

Harcourt Arboretum, Nuneham Courtenay, Oxfordshire

Approx time: min 1 hour
Paths: gravel and grass
Points of interest: peacocks, trees, wildlife
Amenities: toilets, car park
Grading: any type of pushchair
Weather: any

Adults do have to pay to enter Harcourt Arboretum, but its such a lovely place to visit it's worth it.
Your visit can be as long or as short as you would like. take a stroll around the inner area of the Arboretum, among the rhododendrons or take a longer walk around the edge with areas like "plants from high places". Play hide and seek among the trees, hunt out the peacocks or take a picnic and spend a few hours. A visit during April and May for the bluebells is essential.
Before a visit its worth checking out the website
http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/Harcourt/obg-harcourt-intro.html
for events and opening times (its closed at weekends during the winter).

Thrupp/Radley Lakes, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 2 hours
Paths: cycle path
Points of interest: lake
Amenities: toilets at the car park during peak season
Grading: any type of pushchair
Weather: dry

This is not a circular walk, so how ever far you get you have to come back on yourself. It could be made circular by walking further onto Radley and getting the bus (Oxford Bus Company City 35) back into Abingdon.
Start at Abingdon Abbey Meadows car park and follow the sustrains national cycle route 5 towards Radley.
The cycle path will take you through the abbey meadows following the river, then through Barton Meadows and eventually a left turn onto Thrupp/Radley Lakes. Thrupp/Radley Lakes is now owned by the Noorthmoor Trust, and over the coming years I believe they are going to create a circular walk around the lake and also build a visitor centre.

Minster Lovell, Witney, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 30mins - 1 hour
Paths: road, paths, tracks
Points of interest: Cotswold village, church, ruins
Amenities: 2 car parks, one at the church for route 1 and one at the recreation ground (just over the bridge) for route 2.
Grading: route 1: any except a double buggy, route 2: baby carrier
Weather: all (bad weather would add to the atmosphere!)

Minster Lovell Hall is the remains of a 15th century manor house.
If you are taking a pushchair take route 1, if you have a baby carrier or your child can walk then route 2.
map for route 2.

Route 1, park at Minster Lovell church and take the short walk along the road to the church and beyond that to the ruins.

Route 2, park at the recreation ground, cross the ground taking a kissing gate at the far side of the field into the next field.
Through a couple more kissing gates and then across a small stream and head towards the church, the ruins of Minster Lovell Hall are to the right.
After exploring the ruins (and possibly taking a stroll to the Dovecote) leave the ruins through the graveyard and to the opposite side of the church and follow the road back to the recreation ground car park.

If you have walking children or a baby carrier and would like a longer walk the following AA walk is good
http://www.theaa.com/walks/mysteries-at-minster-lovell-656486

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford

Approx time: 1 hour
Paths: gravel
Points of interest: open areas, picnics, trees, wildlife, birds, scenery, river
Amenities: very limited parking in Oxford city centre, no toilets but cafes close by
Grading: suitable for all pushchairs
Weather: Good for all seasons
Warning: open water along most of the walk
Enter Christ Church Meadow from the west side through the memorial garden from St Aldate’s. These are the only gates wide enough for pushchairs to get through. Walk through the gardens and past Christ Church College on your left. This is a circular walk first following the boundary of Christ Church and Merton College, followed by the river Cherwell and then the River Thames and back to the memorial gardens.

Depending on the time of year there may be sports being played on the college sports field, rowing on the river and cattle grazing on the meadow.

The Oxford Botanical Gardens can be accessed from the Rose Lane Gate, but you have to pay to enter (you will have to fold down the pushchair to get through Rose Lane Gate). The Colleges are open most days to the visiting public but again you have to pay to enter.

Neptune Woods, Northmoor Trust, Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 45mins
Paths: mud and gravel paths
Points of interest: open areas, trees, wildlife, birds, scenery
Amenities: car park, no toilets
Grading: any pushchair, designed for wheelchair access
Weather: Good for all seasons
Neptune Woods was planted in 2006 by local children. The woods are to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar (Neptune being one of the ships) with each tree representing a crew member. There are various types of trees all of which would have been used to build boats at the time. There are boards around the walk with more information.
The walk goes in a figure of 8, so for tired little legs you don’t have to go far. There is a bench at the half way point for a breather. There is a small pond and stream along the walk.
There are Willow tunnels and shapes beside the car park (as of 2009/2010) which are good for kids to run around.

Millets Farm, Frilford, Oxfordshire

Approx time: 20mins +
Paths: gravel, mud, footpaths
Points of interest: open areas, animals, PYO
Amenities: parking, toilets, cafe, farm shop, garden centre
Grading: any pushchair (but could be bumpy with a stroller)
Weather: Good for all seasons

Millets was once a small farm but has now gone more commercial with a large garden centre, shop, restaurant, cafe and craft shop.
http://www.milletsfarmcentre.com/
Millets Farm centre has free entry. There is a small “farm yard” with pigs, goats, pony, cows, sheep, alpacas, ducks etc. does vary sometimes with more or less animals. Next to the farm animals is a good size children play area.
It won’t take you long to look round the animals but if you want to stay a few hours (and spend money) you could go round the garden centre or farm shop and have something to eat in the cafe.
In the summer you can do some PYO, great fun for all children.

Oxford University Parks (Oxford)

Approx time: 45 mins +
Paths: gravel
Points of interest: open areas, picnics, river, ducks, pond
Amenities: very limited parking within Oxford City Centre, toilet within park, cafes and shops about 20mins walk
Grading: any pushchair (but could be bumpy with a stroller)
Weather: big puddles after heavy rainfall and flooding. Good for all seasons.
Warning: open water along some of the route



A map of the park can be found at http://www.parks.ox.ac.uk/map750.jpg

We usually enter the park opposite Keble Road. There are a number of entrances from all corners of the park. There is a circular route round the park which you can follow so no explanation needed. Lots of large open spaces so worth taking a ball to kick around in the summer or other outdoor games. Collecting conkers and leaves in the autumn. Snowball fights in the winter! Any budding botanist will like picking out trees and plants, full lists can be found on the park website http://www.parks.ox.ac.uk/index.htm
Cricket can be watched in the summer and rugby in the winter.

5 mins walk south along Parks Road is the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers museum. Always worth a stop here as it’s free and great for children (and adults) of all ages.

Ock River Walk, Abingdon (Oxfordshire)

Approx time: 45 mins
Paths: mixture of footpaths, some main roads, some gravel, some mud.
Points of interest: river, old buildings, bridges, ducks
Amenities: Public parking off West St Helens Street (pay and display), pubs on route, town centre cafes and shops close by, toilets in car park
Grading: any pushchair
Weather: can be muddy after heavy rainfall
Warning: open water along most of the route
1. leave south out of St. Helens car park and follow the footpath to the right. There will be houses on your left and garages to your right.
2. few feet along there is a large tree and a footpath on your right leading to a bridge. take this.
3. this is now the ock walk, follow the path, it split at a few points but soon joins up to the main footpath. older children might like to explore. just over half way along there will be a bridge to cross. at the start and end of the walk there are displays boards.

4. at the end of the ock walk the footpath forks carry on ahead until the the main road.
5. at the main road turn to your right, Marcham Road, at the roundabout turn right (Ock Street).
6. Ock street has many old buildings and alms houses scattered down it along with some new houses.
7. turn right apon reaching Coopers Lane and The Brewery Tap pub. this used to be Morlands Brewery, the old buildings are now flats. at the end of Coopers lane you will retun to St Helens car park.
8. alternative route, don't turn down coopers lane but carry on until you reach Abingdon Town center for shops, cafes and restuarants.

Albert Park, Abingdon (Oxfordshire)

Approx time: 20 minutes
Paths: gravel paths
Points of interest: open area for kicking a ball, picnics
Amenities: no public car parks close by, nearest are 10 mins walk, Stert Street Multi-storey pay and display or east saint helens pay and display, nearest toilets are in town center, 10min walk.
Grading: all forms of buggys and pushchairs, maybe a little bumpy in a stroller.
Weather: best on a dry day


1. No directions for Albert Park needed, there are entrances from all sides of the park and there is a footpath running around the park.